“Tecnomat Olbia: From October 6th, materials for your work projects can only be purchased online or via telephone order. The methods may be changing, but we’re always here for you.”

With this message, circulated on the company’s official social media pages, Tecnomat announced the temporary closure to the public of its Olbia store, which is the subject of a long legal dispute with the Bricofer Group.

This is the official statement from Tecnomat published on October 7th:

Tecnomat announces that, following a series of administrative proceedings, it has received the ruling from the TAR Sardegna which annulled the authorization measures relating to its Olbia store, decreeing its closure, at least for the moment. The company expresses its firm intention to defend its position in the competent courts, with full confidence in the institutions. Tecnomat’s primary objective is the maximum possible protection for the 88 colleagues employed in the store and for all third parties who have professional relationships with the point of sale. To this end, it is promptly activating measures aimed at mitigating the social impact of the situation. Tecnomat is committed to keeping the public informed about future developments in the matter.

As La Nuova Sardegna reports these hours, “In the DIY war in Olbia, after a series of favorable rulings, Tecnomat suffers a setback from the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) and must close its sales structure at Pozzo Sacro. The shutters were lowered, and about a hundred employees were sent home as of yesterday, Monday, October 6th, while the company waits to see if it will receive a cautionary ruling allowing it to reopen. The Regional Administrative Court upheld the appeal filed by Ottimax and Bricofer Group against the Municipality of Olbia and Bricoman Italia. The TAR accepted the appeal against the administrative act which, following the services conference, had authorized Bricoman Italia and M.D. 2000, from a building and commercial standpoint, to establish a sales outlet, branded Tecnomat, for DIY products and other merchandise. This outlet was to have a sales area of approximately 6,000 square meters in the industrial area building, following the execution of internal and external building works and a change in the intended use of the basement. The two Bricofer Group companies challenged the measure, highlighting the multiple and serious legal violations committed during the procedure, related, among other things, to the incorrect process for authorizing the creation of a medium-sized retail structure. Currently, as stated on a sign displayed at the structure’s entrance, only online sales are proceeding.”